"The Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant: Liturgical Resources for Blessing Same-Sex...

The Witnessing and Blessing

of a Lifelong Covenant

Liturgical Resources for Blessing Same-Sex Relationships

Concerning the Service

This rite is appropriately celebrated in the context of the Holy Eucharist and may take place at

the principal Sunday Liturgy. This rite then replaces the Ministry of the Word. A bishop or priest

normally presides. Parallel texts from Enriching Our Worship 1 are included as options for

elements of this rite.

At least one of the couple must be a baptized Christian.

Two or more presenters, who may be friends, parents, family members, or drawn from the local

assembly, may present the couple to the presider and the assembly.

To comply with the laws of the civil jurisdiction in which the rite is celebrated, the priest shall

consult the bishop, who may authorize modifications of the Pronouncement.

SCLM | “I Will Bless You, and You Will Be a Blessing” | of 16

The Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant

The Word of God

Gathering

The couple to be blessed joins the assembly. A hymn of praise, Psalm, or anthem may be sung, or instrumental music may be played.

The Presider says the following, the people standing

Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.People And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and for ever.

Amen. In place of the above may be said

Presider Blessed be the one, holy, and living God.People Glory to God for ever and ever.

From Easter Day through the Day of Pentecost

Presider Alleluia. Christ is risen.People The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.

In place of the above may be said

Presider Alleluia. Christ is risen.People Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia.

Then may be said

Presider Beloved, let us love one another,People For love is of God.Presider Whoever does not love does not know God,


People For God is love.Presider Since God so loves us,People Let us love one another.

The Presider may address the assembly in these words

Dear friends in Christ,we have gathered together todayto witness N. N. and N. N. publically committing themselves to one anotherand, in the name of the Church, to bless their union:a relationship of mutual fidelity and steadfast love,forsaking all others,holding one another in tenderness and respect,in strength and bravery, as long as they live.

Therefore, in the name of Christ, let us pray that they may be strengthened for the promises they make this day,and that we will have the generosity to support them in what they undertakeand the wisdom to see God at work in their life together.

The Collect of the Day

Presider The Lord be with you. or God be with you.People And also with you.Presider Let us pray.

The Presider says one of the following Collects

Gracious and everliving God:assist by your grace N. and N.,whose lifelong commitment of love and fidelity we witness this day.Grant them your blessing, that with firm resolvethey may honor and keep the covenant they make;through Jesus Christ our Savior,who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

or this


Almighty and everliving God:look tenderly upon N. and N.,who stand before you in the company of your Church.Lift them up in joy in their life together.Grant them so to love selflessly and live humbly, that they may be to one another and to the worlda witness and a sign of your never-failing care;through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,one God, to the ages of ages. Amen.

or this

O God, faithful and true,whose steadfast love endures for ever:we give you thanks for sustaining N. and N. in the life they shareand for bringing them to this day.Nurture them and fill them with joy in their life together,continuing the good work you have begun in them;and grant us, with them, a dwelling place eternal in the heavenswhere all your people will share the joy of perfect love,and where you, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, live and reign,one God, now and for ever. Amen.

or this

For those who bring childrenHoly Trinity, one God,three Persons perfect in unity and equal in majesty:Draw together with bonds of love and affectionN. and N., who with their familiesseek to live in harmony and forbearance all their days,that their joining together will be to usa reflection of that perfect communionwhich is your very essence and life,O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who live and reign in glory everlasting. Amen.

The Lessons


The people sit. Then one or more of the following passages of Scripture is read. If the Holy Communion is to be celebrated, a passage from the Gospels always concludes the Readings. When the blessing is celebrated in the context of the Sunday Eucharist, the Readings of the Sunday are used, except with the permission of the Bishop.

Ruth 1:16-171 Samuel 18:1b, 3, 20:16-17, 42a;

or 1 Samuel 18:1-4Ecclesiastes 4:9-12Song of Solomon 2:10-13, 8:6-7Micah 4:1-4

Romans 12:9-181 Corinthians 12:31b-13:132 Corinthians 5:17-20Galatians 5:14, 22-26 Ephesians 3:14-21Colossians 3:12-171 John 3:18-241 John 4:7-16, 21

When a biblical passage other than one from the Gospels is to be read, the Reader announces it with these words

Reader A Reading from __________.

After the Reading, the Reader may say

The Word of the Lord.orHear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.orHear what the Spirit is saying to the Churches.

People Thanks be to God.

Between the Readings, a Psalm, hymn, or anthem may be sung or said. Appropriate Psalms are

Psalm 65


Psalm 67Psalm 85:7-13 Psalm 98 Psalm 100 Psalm 126Psalm 127Psalm 133 Psalm 148 Psalm 149:1-5

All standing, the Deacon or Priest reads the Gospel, first saying

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to _________.

orThe Holy Gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ according to _________.

People Glory to you, Lord Christ.

After the Gospel, the Reader says

The Gospel of the Lord.People Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Appropriate passages from the Gospels are

Matthew 5:1-16Mark 12:28-34Luke 6:32-38John 15:9-17John 17:1-2, 18-26

The Sermon

The Witnessing of the Vows and the Blessing of the Covenant

The couple comes before the assembly. If there is to be a presentation, the presenters stand with the couple, and the Presider says to them


Presider Who presents N. and N., who seek the blessing of God and the Church on their love and life together?

Presenters We do.

Presider Do you promise to love, respect, and pray for N. and N., and to do all in your power to stand with them in the life they will share?

Presenters We do.

The Presider then addresses the couple, saying

Presider N. and N., you have come before God and the Church to make public your commitment to one another and to ask God’s blessing.

The Presider addresses one member of the couple

Presider N., do you freely and unreservedly offer yourself to N.?

Answer I do.

Presider Will you live together in faithfulness and holiness of life as long as you both shall live?

Answer I will.

The Presider addresses the other member of the couple

Presider N., do you freely and unreservedly offer yourself to N.?

Answer I do.

Presider Will you live together in faithfulness and holiness of life as long as you both shall live?

Answer I will.

The assembly stands, the couple faces the people, and the Presider addresses them, saying


Presider Will all of you here gathered uphold and honor this couple and respect the covenant they make?

People We will.

Presider Will you pray for them in times of trouble and celebrate with them in times of joy?

People We will.

The Prayers

Presider Then let us pray for N. and N. in their life together and for the concerns of this community.

A Deacon or another leader bids prayers for the couple.

Prayers for the Church and for the world, for the concerns of the local community, for those who suffer or face trouble, and for the departed are also appropriate. If the rite takes place in the principal Sunday worship of the congregation, the rubric concerning the Prayers of the People on page 359 of the Book of Common Prayer is followed.

Adaptations or insertions may be made to the form that follows.

A bar in the margin indicates a bidding that may be omitted.

Leader For N. and N., seeking your blessing and the blessing of your holy people; Lord, in your mercy (or Lord, in your goodness)

People Hear our prayer.

Leader For a spirit of loving-kindness to shelter them all their days; Lord, in your mercy (or Lord, in your goodness)


Leader For friends to support them and communities to enfold them; Lord, in your mercy (or Lord, in your goodness)



Leader For peace in their home and love in their family; Lord, in your mercy (or Lord, in your goodness)


Leader For the grace, when they hurt each other,to recognize and acknowledge their fault,and to seek each other’s forgiveness and yours; Lord, in your mercy (or Lord, in your goodness)


Leader For the outpouring of your love through their work and witness; Lord, in your mercy (or Lord, in your goodness)


Leader For the wisdom to care for the children you may entrust (have entrusted) to them; Lord, in your mercy (or Lord, in your goodness)


Leader For the growth of their children from strength to strength; Lord, in your mercy (or Lord, in your goodness)


Leader For the strength to keep our vows and commitments; Lord, in your mercy (or Lord, in your goodness)


The leader may add one or more of the following biddings

Leader For all who have been reborn and made new in the waters of Baptism; Lord, in your mercy (or Lord, in your goodness)


Leader For those who lead and serve in communities of faith; Lord, in your mercy (or Lord, in your goodness)


Leader For those who seek justice, peace, and concord among nations; Lord, in your mercy (or Lord, in your goodness)



Leader For those who are sick and suffering, homeless and poor; Lord, in your mercy (or Lord, in your goodness)


Leader For victims of violence and those who inflict it; Lord, in your mercy (or Lord, in your goodness)


Leader For communion with all who have died in the hope of rising again [especially _____]; Lord, in your mercy (or Lord, in your goodness)


The Presider concludes the Prayers with the following or another appropriate Collect

Giver of every gift, source of all goodness,hear the prayers we bring before youfor N. and N., who seek your blessing this day.Give them a share in the saving work of Jesus,who gave himself for us,and bring about the fullness of life he promised, who now lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

If the Eucharist is to follow, the Lord’s Prayer is omitted here.

LeaderAs our Savior Christhas taught us, we now pray,

People and Leader

Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your Name,your kingdom come,your will be done, on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

LeaderAnd now, as our SaviorChrist has taught us,we are bold to say,

People and Leader

Our Father, who art in heaven,hallowed be thy Name,thy kingdom come,thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.


Forgive us our sinsas we forgive those

who sin against us.Save us from the time of trial,

and deliver us from evil.For the kingdom, the power,

and the glory are yours,now and for ever. Amen.

And forgive us our trespasses,as we forgive those

who trespass against us.And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.For thine is the kingdom,

and the power, and the glory,for ever and ever. Amen.

Commitment

The people sit. The couple stands, facing the Presider.

Presider N. and N., I invite you now, illumined by the Word of God and strengthened by the prayer of this community, to make your covenant before God and the Church.

Each member of the couple, in turn, takes the hand of the other and says

In the name of God,I, N., give myself to you, N.I will support and care for you by the grace of God:enduring all things, bearing all things.I will hold and cherish you in the love of Christ:in times of plenty, in times of want.I will honor and love you with the Spirit’s help: forsaking all others, as long as we both shall live.This is my solemn vow.

or this

In the name of God,I, N., give myself to you, N.I will support and care for you:enduring all things, bearing all things.I will hold and cherish you:in times of plenty, in times of want.I will honor and love you:


forsaking all others, as long as we both shall live.This is my solemn vow.

If rings are to be exchanged, they are brought before the Presider, who prays using the following words

Let us pray.

Bless, O God, these rings as signs of the enduring covenantN. and N. have made with each other, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The two people place the rings on the fingers of one another, first the one, then the other, saying

N., receive this ring as a symbol of my abiding love.

If the two have previously given and worn rings as a symbol of their commitment, the rings may be blessed on the hands of the couple, the Presider saying

Let us pray.

By these rings N. and N. have shown to one another and the world their love and faithfulness. Bless these rings, Holy God, that they may now be signs of the covenantN. and N. have made this day,through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pronouncement

The Presider says

Inasmuch as N. and N. have exchanged vows of love and fidelityin the presence of God and the Church,I now pronounce that they are bound to one anotherin a holy covenant,as long as they both shall live. Amen.


Blessing of the Couple

As the couple stands or kneels, the Presider invokes God’s blessing upon them, saying

Let us pray.

Most gracious God, we praise you for the tender mercy and unfailing care revealed to us in Jesus the Christ and for the great joy and comfort bestowed upon us in the gift of human love. We give you thanks for N. and N., and the covenant of faithfulness they have made. Pour out the abundance of your Holy Spirit upon them. Keep them in your steadfast love; protect them from all danger; fill them with your wisdom and peace; lead them in holy service to each other and the world.

The Presider continues with one of the following

God the Father,God the Son,God the Holy Spirit, bless, preserve, and keep you,and mercifully grant you rich and boundless grace,that you may please God in body and soul.God make you a sign of the loving-kindness and steadfast fidelitymanifest in the life, death, and resurrection of our Savior,and bring you at last to the delight of the heavenly banquet,where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

or this

God, the holy and undivided Trinity,bless, preserve, and keep you,and mercifully grant you rich and boundless grace,that you may please God in body and soul.God make you a sign of the loving-kindness and steadfast fidelitymanifest in the life, death, and resurrection of our Savior,


and bring you at last to the delight of the heavenly banquet,where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

The Peace

The Presider bids the Peace.

Presider The peace of the Lord be always with you.People And also with you.

In place of the above may be said

Presider The peace of Christ be always with you.People And also with you.

The liturgy continues with the Holy Communion. When the Eucharist is not celebrated, the Presider blesses the people. The Deacon, or in the absence of a Deacon, the Priest, dismisses them.

At the Eucharist

The liturgy continues with the Offertory, at which the couple may present the offerings of bread and wine.

The following proper preface may be used.

Because in the giving of two people to each other in faithful loveyou reveal the joy and abundant life you share with your Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

The following postcommunion prayer may be used.

God our strength and joy,we thank you for the communion of our life together,for the example of holy love that you give us in N. and N.,and for the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of our Savior Jesus Christ.Grant that it may renew our hopeand nourish us for the work you set before us,to witness to the presence of Christ in the world,through the power of your Spirit,


to the glory of your Name. Amen.


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